An unemployed man talks on the phone with a state unemployment worker at the state unemployment and career office in San Francisco, Friday, Dec. 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

(Newser)
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Male unemployment has hit an all-time high, with a whopping 1 of every 5 working-age American men jobless, according to the latest government figures. The economic downturn has been especially brutal on traditionally male-dominated fields like construction and manufacturing, the Huffington Post explains, leading some to label it a “mancession.” The figure includes many people standard unemployment figures don’t track, including those who’ve chosen not to look and those who have given up on job hunting.

About 80% of men aged 25 to 54 had jobs in December, the lowest figure since recordkeeping began in 1948—at which point the figure was 94.4%. Fewer women overall work—69.1% of those 25 to 54—but that represents a less dramatic decline, putting women about on par with their 1998 levels. Overall, the number of Americans over age 16 with a job has fallen to 58.2%, a 25-year low.

Personal income is down 5 out of the last 7 years. This problem is more systemic than this economy. Our taxes have exported 10’s of millions of good paying American Jobs. America’s in DECLINE. Look at CA & NY over the last 30 years they have increased taxes and spending to the point businesses fled. Our country has done the same thing over the last 20 years. KillingOurJobs.org

jakemontie

May 8, 2010 11:13 AM CDT

Good. 1 in 5 women cant steal their money then. Not like this is a bad thing.

stanooch

Feb 13, 2010 12:27 PM CST

DLY--Union of Soviet Socialist Republics? Calling a horse a duck doesn't make it quack!